Riot Act

Steve and Remfry discuss A Weekend in the City, the 2007 sophomore album from Bloc Party, as suggested by Luke (Spunknuts?). Both the Riot Act boys LOVE debut album Silent Alarm but how does the follow-up fare 13 years after it's initial release? They also discuss the band's forays into electronica, the Radiohead comparisons that came as a result of that plus the generally harsh critical reaction that Bloc Party seem to inspire. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In the first part of our mammoth double classic album special on French tech-death lords Gojira, Remfry and Steve look specifically at the latter part of their career and the two albums that lead up to 2021’s forthcoming album Fortitude.  2012's L'Enfant Sauvage proved to be the moment where Gojira became unstoppable. Yes the underground had been hyping them since at least 2005's From Mars to Sirius, but the move to Roadrunner Records and four year wait between The Way of All Flesh and L'Enfant Sauvage had given the band more exposure and also allowed some people to catch up to the fact that Gojira had, slowly but surely, become one of the very best and innovative metal bands on the planet.  L'Enfant Sauvage managed to be a glorious conglomeration of everything the band had been aiming to be up until that point. Ferocious death-metal inspired riffs coalesced seamlessly with more exploratory, ambient (comparatively) progressive tendencies ... Death meets Tool in effect. But Gojira somehow m

There are important updates on https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/broken-records/id1561624939 (Broken Records), Classic Albums and Remfry's squeaky chair this week as well as news on will.i.am's latest foray into the world of tech and Ronnie Wood has been granted the freedom of the city of London ... lucky him! Reviews this week include Let the Bad Times Roll by The Offspring (19:47) The Greatest Mistake of my Life by Holding Absence (50:30) Loss by Devil Sold His Soul (70:47) and Norweigan Gothic by Årabrot (87:01) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Remfry's had his first vaccination much to Steve's chagrin. Irrefutable proof that the NHS believe Remfry is a better person than Steve (guess who's writing this episode description).  In other far less exciting news, Daron Malakian has stated that 'guns are essential' in response to a frankly bizarre (and pretty crap to be honest) cover of BYOB by GunDrummer, a musician / irresponsible gun fetishising lunatic who replicates beats and drum patterns using firearms. In his defense, it's a better use of guns than shooting people, so you carry on Mr. GunDrummer.  And a group of songwriters who collectively have writing credits for some of the biggest artists in pop music (Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, One Direction, Michael Bublé, Lorde, Shawn Mendes and Selena Gomez amongst others) have formed an advocacy group called The Pact to raise awareness and prevent pop stars from taking writing credits on songs that they didn't write. Naughty naughty pop stars...  Albums

Originally posted to Patreon – June 2nd 2020 Remfry and Steve discuss the self-titled debut album released by Placebo, as suggested by Cameron Sheppard. Released on 17th June 1996, Steve and Remfry discuss how the band exploded in a cloud of glitter and dewy panda-eyed cynicism into a British culture obsessed with Britpop and lad culture as well as the relative merits of this record when put up against the rest of the band's catalogue. Oh and Steve brings up the time that Brian Molko claimed that Caprice tried to 'crack on to him' (allegedly).  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Steve and Remfry start proceedings this week by going into a very strange tangent inspired by the Sky Arts documentary Allen V Farrow (sorry about that). In the news, Vinyl sales look set to eclipse CD sales in the UK since 1987 and Roger 'Man of the People' Daltrey is releasing his own branded Champagne.  New releases reviewed this week include Is 4 Lovers by Death From Above 1979 (25:37) Tonic Immobility by Tomahawk (52:09) OH NO by Xiu Xiu (64:49) the self-titled album by Black Spiders (78:19) and Serj Tankian's Elasticity EP (90:28) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Well ... The Grammys happened ...  Reviews this week include Chemtrails Over the Country Club by Lana Del Rey (29:32) Dream Weapon by Genghis Tron (55:53) Give One, Take One by '68 (69:14) and Resident Human by Wheel (82:28) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Originally posted to Patreon – May 26th 2020 Steve and Remfry discuss the 3rd full length studio album from Helmet, Paige Hamilton's edgy alt-metal riff lords. Suggested by Chris Schwarten and Max Ellis, the album was released June 21st 1994. Coming out during a period of transition from grunge to nu-metal, Hamilton's razor sharp riffs would go on to influence the nu-metal movement's groove and bounce This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A sombre start to the show this week as, after a brief battle with bile duct cancer, Entombed A.D. vocalist LG Petrov has passed away at the age of 49. Remfry and Steve pay tribute to a man who has influenced countless bands across the extreme world. RIP LG.  In other news, Kreator are going to be headlining Bloodstock Festival this year (if it goes ahead) replacing Mercyful Fate, Architects secured a No.1 album on the UK Official Album Charts and, bizarrely, Maroon 5's Adam Levine has claimed that there are no bands anymore ...  Reviews this week include The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy by Rob Zombie (35:43) Mirrors by Pupil Slicer (58:22) Nature Always Wins by Maximo Park (1:13:34) and A History of Nomadic Behaviour by Eyehategod (1:30:05) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Well, they only went and bleeding did it! Mogwai at No.1 in the Official UK Album Charts. Remfry's very excited and it looks like Architects will score well on this week's Official Album Charts as well. Hooray for guitar music! In other good news, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have won a Golden Globe for their soundtrack to Pixar's Soul. Sadly and somewhat predictably, Download Festival has been cancelled in 2021, and Van Morrison has announced a new studio album (his 42nd!), a double album with some dubious eye-rolling, old man titles.  Steve and Remfry review new releases including Carnage by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (32:58) As Days Get Dark by Arab Strap (59:16) L.W by King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard (1:20:33) and I Won’t Care How You Remember Me by Tigers Jaw (1:35:12) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

(Originally Posted on Patreon on May 19th 2020) Riot Act goes pop (sort of) at Elliot Holt's suggestion as Steve and Remfry discuss the sophomore album by indie-electro pop trio London Grammar, who (confusingly) are from Nottingham. Steve gets personal, antagonises David Cameron and does an appalling Northern Irish accent whilst Remfry sits and listens in a sulk (even though he's not in a sulk at all). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Remfry's so excited about the prospect of Mogwai getting a number 1 album this week that he's changed his t-shirt! Who saw that coming!? Steve's happy for Mogwai but even happier to discover that Remfry has more than one t-shirt.  The rest of the news covers the full range of the good, the bad and the ugly as The Former Boss of the United States of America and The Boss start a podcast together (good), Daft Punk announce they've split up after 28 years (bad) and Reading & Leeds strongly indicate that they will be back this summer, leading a whole slew of UK festivals to announce they will also be returning in 2021 (ugly). Oh and in altogether terrifying news, some fart-hat has decided to make a biopic about Robbie Williams ... starring Robbie Williams. Reviews this week are For Those Who Wish to Exist by Architects (51:18) Little Oblivions by Julien Baker (90:47) Single Album by NoFX (106:40) and Life Is Not a Lesson by Glitterer (122:08) This podcast uses the following third-party servi

Steve and Remfry review four new releases this week including As the Love Continues by Mogwai (16:54) TYRON by Slowthai (36:53) Trauma Factory by Nothing, Nowhere (1:05:53) and Open Door Policy by The Hold Steady (1:30:12) #westandwithmorbid This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

(Originally Posted on Patreon on May 12th 2020) Thanks to the suggestion from Rich Hobson, Remfry and Steve are returning to their favourite era ... the early 90s. But lo! What is this!? An album from 'the best decade of all time' that neither Steve nor Remfry have heard? What folly is this? Of course, Candlebox were the butt of many jokes once the grunge movement exploded, particularly with the release of their 1993 self-titled album ... but do they deserve such scorn? It's like clear gravy baby! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Remfry and Steve look at six new releases, including FLOWERS for VASES / descansos by Hayley Williams (24:13) Ghost Tapes #10 by God is an Astronaut (45:50) The Things They Believe by Loathe (57:49) For the First Time Ever by Black Country, New Road (1:15:23) The Thule Grimoires by The Ruins of Beverast (1:39:44) and Mesmark by Lüt (1:57:15) They also take a look at the nominees for this year's Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Steve is infuriated that Tina Turner isn't already in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. But not as infuriated as he is with Weetabix, and their suggestion of putting baked beans on the whole-grain wheat breakfast cereal. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Some big releases are reviewed this week as Steve and Remfry delve into six new releases, including Medicine at Midnight by Foo Fighters (31:07) The Raging River by Cult of Luna (58:17) OK Human by Weezer (71:10) Sound Ancestors by Madlib (85:23) We Are Always Alone by Portrayal of Guilt (101:49) and Dark Flannel by Memory of Elephants (109:51) And news verges from the horrific to the ridiculous as we discuss the grim allegations that have come out against Marilyn Manson and the lawsuit taken out against Taylor Swift by a Utah theme park that just so happens to share a name with the latest album from the pop sensation.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In a special Riot Act Podcast exclusive, Steve sat down with the UK’s own prog overlord, former Porcupine Tree leader and all round music obsessive Steven Wilson to chat about his new album The Future Bites.  We discuss the albums themes, with that awkward feeling of being an avid consumer against consumerism being among them, the records more pop like sensibilities, taking us into discussions on everyone from Talk Talk to Pet Shop Boys to The Weeknd, what the definition of progressive music is in the year 2021 and, of course, both of the Steve’s love and admiration for Taylor Swift.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

It's a crossover episode as Remfry and Steve team up with fellow journalist / podcaster Tom Dare from the Hell Bent For Metal podcast. Alongside Tom, we review new releases including The Future Bites by Steven Wilson, Where the Gloom Becomes Sound by Tribulation, The Third Chimpanzee EP by Martin Gore, Too Mean To Die by Accept and Gas Lit by Divide and Dissolve.  And as it's a crossover episode, we throw in one of Hell Bent For Metal's features in the form of Camp Classic, where we pick a work from metal's history which the gay community might see differently to the straight folk in the room. And this week's pick is the video to Sonne by Rammstein.  There's also brief discussion around The Flaming Lips' super cool Oklahoma 'bubble' show and the cancellation of Glastonbury and what that rather inevitably means for UK festivals of a similar size in 2021. LINKS Drumtalk's Sean Reinert (Cynic) Tribute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKJdCM-ngGE (https://www.youtube.com/wat

Originally on Patreon (May 5th 2020) Steve and Remfry dissect the 2004 debut album from Canadian rock duo Death From Above 1979. Just catching the tail end of the Garage rock revival, 'You're a Woman, I'm a Machine' was released to very positive reviews, particularly amongst the indie press (5/5 on Alternative Press, 10/10 on Drowned in Sound, **** in Mojo and Uncut). The boys discuss their experiences seeing Death From Above live, their split, their resurgence and comeback almost a decade later.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

This week, we try to kick into 2021 properly, but not before casting our critical eye over Smashing Pumpkins' 11th studio album CYR (20:37) which came out at the tail end of 2020.  Releases covered from 2021 include Wardruna's Kvitvran (53:56) Viagra Boys' Welfare Jazz (71:14) and Lonely the Brave's The Hope List (85:42) Steve and Remfry also pay tribute to New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain and acknowledge that Phil Spector's died.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy